Gospel for April 17 2022 – John 20:1-9
Gospel Reflections for April 17 2022
That’s the end of Him!
These could have been the words of the Roman soldiers as they walked away from Jesus on the cross on Good Friday.
Jesus was certainly dead and would soon be buried in a sealed tomb. All His followers had fled in fear and denied even knowing Him. They did not understand two important things about Our Lord that would surprise them. Jesus was completely innocent …and He would rise again on Easter Sunday.
I have seen similar surprising events in the world today, especially in Ukraine. Many experts predicted that Ukraine would fall quickly. Russia would invade Ukrainian cities and say, “That’s the end of them!” They also expected the world to abandon the Ukrainian people too. These experts did not understand two things about this small country. Ukrainians were innocent …and they would rise again!
Their compassion for each other and their courage to face the enemy has inspired the world and has even led to major victories so far.
Jesus was innocent when He arrived at the cross, yet His compassion and courage also remained strong. Nothing would stop Our Lord from being with the people He loves, not even the cross.
He felt compassion for people whose sinful behavior had left them profoundly unhappy, and He showed courage by facing even death on a cross. Yet, His love for you cannot die, and so He physically rose from the dead on that first Easter Sunday. The arrogance of Roman and Russian soldiers cannot win against the power of compassion and courage. They both should have taken His resurrection seriously.
Easter Sunday empowered His disciples with that same compassion and courage. They burst out of Jerusalem to enter the whole world, as dangerous as it was, to share this Good News. You and I have that same faith today because of that long line of faithful people that stretches back in time to those brave disciples.
I am glad the compassion and courage of Our Lord reveals the way to lasting happiness, and for the example of so many saints in our history who lived that life well. I am also inspired by the courage of the Ukrainian people and the compassion of the world to help them.
Ask God today for the grace to live your compassion and courage the same way.
Happy Easter!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
THANKS AGAIN, FR. DAVE, FOR ANOTHER INSPIRATION WHEN WE AND THE REST OF THE FREE WORLD MOST NEED IT!
Thanks Larry. The Ukraine story parallels the Easter story in an amazing way!
Thanks so much Fr. Dave for another “home run”. Your thoughts are always uplifting and inspiring. Hope you have a wonderful Easter.
Thank you! Happy Easter to your whole family as well.
Thanks again Fr Dave!
Because of the huge beam of wood in my own eye I am always trying to not point out specs in my brother’s eyes, But I know you are a wealth of historical and geopolitical information. Do you have any thoughts, resources or articles that you could suggest to me me that could shed some light on why the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox church and all of the church’s members in Russia are not celebrating Mass from prison?
I pray for the continued courage of our brothers and sisters in Christ like Fr Ioann Burdin. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russian-priest-speaks-out-against-war-in-ukraine-despite-threats/ar-AAW0Dc7
VSS
Seth W-T
Hello Seth! George Weigel, of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, has written several recent articles on the Russian Orthodox Church leaders and the Ukraine crisis. He is an outstanding Catholic scholar so I highly recommend him. I am sure a Google search will surface his articles quickly.
AMEN fir the Urkraine people!
What an inspiration they have been to the world. Of course, it starts at the top with great leadership.
Come and journey with our Savior, as we seek Him deep within, where He meets
us in our living, in our striving and our sin.
Nobody, only Jesus could have done what He did for us!
Praise and thanks to Him!
Happy Easter and thanks to you, Fr Dave
Thank you, and may you have a Happy Easter as well!
Love our precious Jesus, love our beautiful Ukraine and its precious people!!! We must do more to help them!!! We need our precious prayers and giving aid, planes, missils and the world must act in unison and defeat evil!! defeat Putin!!! Our beautiful Consecartion of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will defeat Putin and with the aid of everyone!!! Beautifully Pray!! Love all the world for praying!!!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!
Thanks Fr Dave for these words. I’m so pleased you continue the weekly commentaries. May God continue to bless you.
You are very welcome!
🌷🌸☘️ Wishing you Peace and Happiness this Easter Season!
I wish for you the same!
Dear Father Dave,
You’ve presented an incredible thought-provoking analogy.. Thank you.
Christ’s death on the cross is sadness personified and His Easter rising is pure joy, pure holy, pure love. Christ’s pain and suffering is unparalleled agony.
The slaughter of the Ukrainian people is agonizing and brutality evil.
In this season of Easter, we pray their strength holds in their fight for freedom and independence.
God bless them and deliver them from this horrendous aggression….
Kathleen
I believe the Ukrainian people will be victorious, and from the prayers of the whole world.